Jefferson Rec to bring back spring track

LAKE HOPATCONG — Yhe Jefferson Striders recreational spring track program will return in March for a seventh season, offering the program to children in kindergarten through eighth grades during the 2014 season.

The program will again be part of the Lakeland Junior Track and Field League, established in 1973, and competes against the Denville, Rockaway, Mountain Lakes, Roxbury, and Hopatcong recreation leagues.

Boys and girls are invited to register for this program, which will give them the experience needed if they want to pursue track opportunities in the future on high school teams. Weather permitting, the program will start at 6 p.m. on March 24 at the Jefferson Township High School Track, 1010 Weldon Road in the Milton/Oak Ridge section of the township.

The participation fee will be $45 per student. Practices will be held on Wednesdays for the kindergarten through 2nd graders and Tuesdays/Thursdays for the third- through eighth-graders, starting at 6 p.m. The events for the Instructional League for kindergarteners through second-graders will include 50 meters, 200 meters, 800 meters, relay, and long jump with meets held on Fridays. The events for the third- through eighth-graders will include 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, 800 meters, mile, shot put, long jump, and 4x100 relays with meets held on Sundays.

If you have any specific questions or would like to volunteer to assist with team activities (must be 18 years of age or older), you can contact Recreation Director Grace Rhinesmith at 973-663-8404 or email GRHINESMITH@jeffersontownship.net Registrations will be sent through the Jefferson Township schools and will be available in the Recreation Department office located at Camp Jefferson, 81 Weldon Road in Lake Hopatcong as well as in the literature display racks at the Jefferson Township Municipal Building and Public Library. You can also print the registration form from the township website at www.jeffersontownship.net by going to the tab entitled “Residents”, then to the “Forms Center” on the drop-down menu, and then scrolling to the “Recreation Department.”